Shrub rose plant named &#39;CHEwsumsigns&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Shrub rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of light pink coloration with a distinctly darker eyezone.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida plant.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘CHEwsumsigns’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Shrub Rose. Ithas as its seed parent the variety known as KORizont (not patented) andas its pollen parent an undisseminated seedling of my creation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its soft pink singleflowers with a distinct darker pink eyezone, its dark coloration at thebase of the filaments, its red coloration on the hypanthium at the pointwhere the filaments attach and its predominance of seven leaflet leaves.The plant has a bushy somewhat spreading plant growth habit, suitablefor outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘CHEwsumsigns’ maybe asexually propagated by budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.Dr. Huey (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, KORizont, by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas the seed parent bearsmedium-large (about 7.5 to about 9 cm. in diameter) semi-double flowersof about 8 to about 10 petals, CHEwsumsigns bears significantly smaller(about 5.5 to about 6.2 cm. in diameter) single flowers mostly with 5petals. Whereas the new variety bears flowers of soft pink colorationwith a distinctly darker pink eyezone, KORizont bears flowers of moreuniform orange pink coloration with no darker eyezone. WhereasCHEwsumsigns is a Shrub with a bushy slightly spreading habit, the seedparent is classified as a Climber with a significantly larger morespreading climbing habit.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anundisseminated seedling of my creation, by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas the pollen parent is classified as a Floribundawith a very compact growing habit, CHEwsumsigns is classified as a Shrubwith a significantly larger and more spreading plant habit. Whereas thenew variety bears medium-small (about 5.5 to about 6.2 cm. in diameter)single petaled flowers mostly with 5 petals, the pollen parent bearssignificantly larger (about 8 to about 10 cm. in diameter) semi-doubleflowers with about 10 to about 12 petals. Whereas CHEwsumsigns bearslight pink flowers with a distinctly darker pink eyezone, theundessiminated pollen parent bears deep pink flowers with a lessdistinguishable deep pink eyezone.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘MORglory’ (not patented) by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas MORglory is classified as aMiniature with small flowers (about 3.8 to about 4.6 cm. in diameter) ofsemi-double petalage (about 5 to about 10 petals), CHEwsumsigns isclassified as a Shrub, bearing significantly larger single flowers(about 5.5 to about 6.2 cm. in diameter) with significantly less petals(only 5). Whereas CHEwsumsigns bears flowers of soft pink colorationwith a darker pink eyezone, MORglory bears flowers of a significantlydarker pink coloration with a darker eyezone and a lighter colored petalreverse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 2 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Kern County, California in the month ofOctober. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural andclimatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light andsoil.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers in clusters of five or moreper stem. Flowers may be borne in irregular somewhat rounded topyramidal clusters on moderately pendulous medium long stems (about 26to about 42 cm.). Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearlycontinuously during the growing season. The flowers have a slight spicyfragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.3 to about 3.2 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It ismoderately smooth, with some stipitate glands and few hairs near thetop. Peduncle color is between 146B and 144A sometimes moderatelysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with near 183B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.0 to about 1.2 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.6 to about 1.9 cm. in length, andvery pointed to ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears fewstipitate glands, usually with slender entire foliaceous parts extendingbeyond the tip of the bud about ¼ to ½ of its length. Bud color isbetween 146A and 138A sometimes moderately suffused, especially on theside exposed to the sun, with near 183B.

The sepals are about 1.6 to about 2.2 cm. in length and about 0.5 toabout 0.6 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 138A and 146A, sometimes moderately suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with near 183B. The outersurface of the sepal is moderately smooth and bears between 1 to 4foliaceous appendages with few stipitate glands. The inner surface colorof the sepal is near 138B. The inner surface of the sepal is coveredwith fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are lined with few stipitateglands and some hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of moderately short length (about 0.4 toabout 0.7 cm.) and average in caliper (about 0.5 to about 0.6 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is somewhat globular in form. Its surface issomewhat smooth with few stipitate glands and moderately thin fleshywalls. The receptacle color is between 138A and 146A sometimes lightlysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with near 183B.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.2 toabout 1.5 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.8 to about 2.2cm. in length, and very pointed to ovoid in form. The color of the undersurfaces of the newly opened petals is between 55A and 58B. At the pointwhere the petal attaches, there is a somewhat small zone of near 154D.The color of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between55B and 58C. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a smallzone of near 174A. Surrounding the attachment zone is a moderatelylarger zone of between 59C and 59B that extends into about ¼ of thepetal length.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 5.5 to about 6.2 cm. indiameter. Petalage is single with 5 petals, mostly without petaloids.When partially open, the bloom form is somewhat cupped to flat and thepetals are somewhat cupped to flat with undulated petal edges. Whenfully open, the bloom form is more flat and the petals are very flat toslightly undulated with petal edges less undulated to somewhat reflexedoutward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces moderately satiny to velvety and under surfaces moreshiny. The petals are about 2.5 to about 2.9 cm. in length and about 2.6to about 2.9 cm. in width at the widest point. Petal margins are entire.The petals are broadly obovate to nearly round in shape with somewhatrounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the petals is between 55B and 63C. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a somewhat small zone of near154D. The upper surface color of the petals is between 55C and 62C,sometimes with a wash of as dark as 63C at the outer part of the petalmidrib. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderatelysmall zone of near 174B. Surrounding the attachment zone is a moderatelylarger zone of between 58B and 61C that extends into about ¼ to about ⅓of the petal length.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 55C and 62Dwith a darker eyezone of between 58B and 61C.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the petals is between 55D and 62C. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a moderately small zone of near155C. The upper surface color of the petals is between 65D and 62D,sometimes with a wash of as dark as 68C at the outer part of the petalmidrib. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderatelysmall zone of near 177D. Surrounding the attachment zone is a moderatelylarger zone of between 61C and 64C that extends into about ¼ to about ⅓of the petal length.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 65D and 62Dwith a darker eyezone of between 61C and 64C.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly and are notparticularly affected by cold, hot, wet, or dry weather.

In October in Kern County, California, blooms on the bush growingoutdoors generally last about three to four days. Cut roses from plantsgrown outdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generallylast about three to four days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are average to many in number (average about 90) and arearranged regularly about the pistils. The filaments are very irregularin length ranging from short to long (about 0.3 to about 1.1 cm.) mostwith anthers. Filaments are colored with a small base of between 187Aand 187B suffusing to a somewhat small mid-section of near 53B. Theremaining majority of the filament is between 21A and 23A in color. Atthe top of the hypanthium, at the point where the filaments attach,there is a coloration of near 44B. The anthers are moderately small forthe class and all open approximately at the same time. Anther color whenimmature is near 22A. Anther color at maturity is near 163A. Pollen ismoderately abundant and near 23C in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 35). The styles are somewhat shortin length (about 0.2 to about 0.4 cm.), thin to average in caliper, andvery bunched. Stigma color is near 161C. Style color is near 155A at thebase suffusing to near 53B on the upper half. Ovaries are usually allenclosed in the calyx.

Hips are of somewhat short to average length (about 10 to about 12 cm.),very globular in form, and near 169C in color when ripe. The hip surfaceis very smooth with somewhat thick fleshy walls. The sepals are mostlyfugacious.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 10to about 14 per hip, about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter at thewidest point and near 165D in color.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The seven-leaflet leaves are about 10.2 to about11.8 cm. in length and about 7.8 to about 9.5 cm. in width at the widestpoint, heavy to somewhat leathery in texture, and very glossy in finishon the upper side and more semi-glossy to matte in finish on theunderside. The leaves have a pinnate venation pattern. The terminalleaflets are about 4.1 to about 5.0 cm. in length and about 2.2 to about3.2 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped somewhat oval to slightlyovate with acute apices and with sometimes round to sometimesinequilateral bases. Their margins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 146A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 138A and 147B. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 146B and 137C,sometimes heavily suffused with as dark as between 183B and 187C. Theunder surface color of the young leaf is between 146B and 137C, usuallyheavily suffused with as dark as between 183B and 187C.

The rachis is average in caliper and somewhat smooth. The upper side ismoderately shallowly grooved with few stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the rachis is somewhat more rough with afew stipitate glands and about 1 to about 2 somewhat small prickles. Therachis color is between 146B and 137C.

The stipules are about 1.3 to about 1.6 cm. in length and somewhatnarrow (about 0.1 to about 0.2 cm.) with medium long straight pointsthat usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees. The undersurface color of the stipule is between 146B and 137C. The upper surfacecolor of the stipule is between 139A and 146A.

The petiole is average in caliper and moderately smooth. The upper sideis somewhat shallowly grooved with few stipitate glands. The under sideof the petiole is somewhat smooth with a few stipitate glands. Thepetiole is about 0.1 to about 0.2 cm. in length and about 0.1 cm inwidth at the widest point. The under surface color of the petiole isbetween 146B and 137C. The upper surface color of the petiole is between139A and 146A.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Kern County, California. The plant's winterhardiness and drought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a bushy somewhat spreading medium height growth habit(about 95 to about 110 cm. in height and about 130 to about 150 cm.spread at the widest point), with very full branching. It displays veryvigorous growth and the canes are of medium to heavy caliper for theclass (about 1.8 to about 2.5 cm. in diameter at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 146C and 148B. They bear severallarge prickles that are about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm. in length. The largeprickles are almost straight and hooked slightly downward with amoderately long narrow oval base; prickle color is between 166A and167A. The major stem bears few small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the branches is between 144A and 137C. They bear severallarge prickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickleson the major stems; prickle color is between 163A and 166B. The branchesbear some small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 144A and 146C usually heavilysuffused with as dark as between 183B and 187C. They bear many largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe major stems; prickle color is between 183A and 187B. The shoots bearseveral small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Shrub rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.